Sprinkler



June 6, 1933. A. J. LOEPSINGER SPRINKLER Filed March 1, 1929 In veiitdi' by W Mo 2 1265 Patented June 6, 19 33 UNITED STATES PATENT & error;

ALBERT .r. nonrsmenn or rnovinnncn, RHODE ISLAND, AssIenoa T GENERAL FIRE nx'rmeursnnn. COMPANY, or rnovrnnncn, nnonn ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE srnmxnnn 7 Application filed March 1, 1929. Serial No. 343,604.

10 sists any change in shape until a predetermined temperature is reached and" which thereupon rapidly and somewhat violently undergoes such a change. It is a feature of the invention that the movement and the force engendered by thissudden change are. utilized to release the valve of the sprinkler which is normally held closed.

In practice the sensitive element may take the form of a bar or disk of bimetallic metal, as for example, the brass-invar-metal frequently used in thermostats. In this instance, however, the element is initially formed curved, the bar being preferably shaped like a bow and the disk being dished somewhat like a saucer. In both cases, the

metal having the higher coefficient of expansion is placed on the concave side so that as it expands it tends to straighten out. The other metal, on the convex side, resists this tendency up to a rather definite point and is. then suddenly overpowered by the elongating metal. The resultlis a snapping of the bow, or disk, from its initial curvature to one of reversed curvature with the metal having the highercoefficient of eX- element is utilized to dislodge a strut which normally holds the valve of the sprinkler to its seat. In one modification shown the strut is of a toggle-like arrangement of parts which is upset by the action of the thermostatic element, and in the other there is a frangible strut which is shattered when the element changes its shape. In both cases the dislodgment of the strut can be determined with considerable. accuracy due to the fact thatthe action of the thermostatic element can be forecast almost to a degree depending upon its size, the metals employed and their proportional relation to one another. As a result, sprinklers constructed in accord ance with the principles of the presentinvention can be relied upon to open whenever predeterminedconditions exist. In the case when a frangible strut is used, such as glass or quartz, there is almost no danger from corrosion, and where the strut is of all metal construction this danger is negligible because whenthe thermostatic element responds its action is transmitted with such afsubstantial blow upon the movable parts that any holding effect which may have resulted from corrosion is immediately overcome.

The accompanying drawing is to be taken as merely illustrative of how the principles of the invention may be applied and it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patent novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of asprinkler having a toggle-like strut which is dislodged by the change of shape of a thermostatic element; and

Figure 2 is a similar view of a sprinkler having a frangible strut similarly dislodged.

Referring to the drawing, the sprinkler shown in Figure 1 has a base portion 1 with threaded hollow stem 3 adapted to be connected with a source of fire extinguishing medium. A ring 5, having an upstanding yoke 7, is screwed into the upper portion of the base 11 and thereby clamps between them a flexible diaphragm 9 which carries a seat 11 for a valve 13. This valve is preferably made of glass in semi-spherical shape with a metal cap 15 thereon.

Centrally of this cap is a suitable recess or seat 17 for the end of a bar ,19 whose other end. abuts against a second bar 21 which in turn rests in a similar seat 23 provided on a boss 25 at the upper end of the yoke 7. lVhen the sprinkler is closed these abutting bars are slightly out of alignment being in clined toward the right with their adjacent ends resting against a plunger 27 whose shoulder 29 bottoms on the arm 31 of the yoke 7 A reduced stem 33 of the plunger 27 extends through this arm 31 with its end positioned in the path of movement of a thermostatic element 35 but spaced slightly therefrom.

As here shown this element is a composite metallic disk which at normal temperatures is dished in one direction but which at a certain predetermined higher temperature suddenly reverses its shape and becomes dished in the opposite direction. This is accomplished by providing on thevnormally concave side of the disk a layer 37 of brass or any suitable metal having a relatively high coefficient of expansion. On the opposite or convex side a layer 39 of invarmetal or one having a relatively low coefiicient of expansion is employed. As the temperature rises the highly expansible,

metal tends to elongate but its tendency is resisted by the relatively non-expansible metal until finally the power of the former overcomes the latter and causes the disk to spring inward and thence outward on the other side thereby reversing its curvature.

The arm 31 of the yoke is provided with a semi-spherical cavity 41 having a marginal shoulder 43 upon which the edge of the disk is seated. The edge 45 of the cavity is then spun over the disks edge, not too tightly but sufficient to secure the edge of the disk in place. Into this cavity the stem 33 of the plunger extends with its end 0 posite the central part of the disk and pre erably, as shown, slightly within the hollow of the 1 disk. WVhen the disk snaps across the plane of its edge, as heretofore explained, it does so with considerable violence and strikes a very appreciable blow on the plunger. This drives the latter to the left pushing the abutting ends of the bars 19 and 21 ahead of it as it flies out of the yoke arm. The diaphragm 9 yields slightly, as the bars are thus momentarily brought into alignment and then its resiliency tends to aid the plunger in pushing the bars aside. If the sprinkler is attached to a container holding air or fire extinguishing fluid under pressure, this pressure acting on the diaphragm and valve 13 also assists in the dislodgment of the strut bars and as this is accomplished blows the valve itself off its seat. Thus the space between the valve seat and the outer end of the yoke is cleared so that the issuing medium may strike the yoke and deflector 47 and be dissipated to best advantage.

The sprinkler of Figure 2 has its body 1a and yoke 7a made integral and a disk valve 13a rests on a plain seat 11a formed on the upper edge of the body portion. A seat 17 (t on the top of this valve receives the lower end of a frangible strut 19a preferably made of glass, quartz or the like, with a reduced section 190; at its middle. In assembling the sprinkler sufficient force is imposed upon this strut by the adjusting screw 20 to tightly seat the valve 13a, after which the screw is secured in the boss 25a by a pin 26. The head of the screw is then cut off leaving enough of the shank to head over and hold the deflector 47 in place.

The arm 31a ofthe yoke is similar to the arm 31 of Figure 1,'having a cavity 4.1a closed by the thermostatic disk 35. There is also a plunger 27 a, whose knife-edged end comes opposite the reduced or weakened portion of the strut 19a. The stem 33a of this plunger is desirably made triangular and its hole through the arm 31a is similarly shaped in order that the knife-edge may be properly .positioned transversely to the weakened portion19a of the strut.

The rear end of the plunger stem 33a is in the path .of movement of the thermostatic element 35 and at a short distance therefrom so that when the latter violently changes its shape the plunger is struck by the element and driven out of the arm 31a. In its travel the knife-edge strikes and destroys the strut after which the valve 13a is pushed out of the way by the fire extinguishing medium which then has a clear path to the deflector 4 After a sprinkler of the type herein disclosed is opened as described, the cooling effect of the issuing medium soon causes the thermostatic element to return to its normal or initial shape, that is, bulged outward as shown in the drawing. To reset the sprinkler of Figure 1 it is only necessary to insert a new valve, plunger and the coacting bars. With the sprinkler of Figure 2 it would .probably be more feasible to replace it entire as the setting and pinning of the adjusting screw 20, together with heading it over to secure the deflector, is more easily done in the factory than in the field. But whether done one place or the other, the body, yoke, deflector and thermostatic element can all be used again.

from any danger of cold flow; the danger of corrosion is negligible; its action clears away the moving parts from the path of flow of the extinguishing medium; and its response to a temperature change can be predetermined with unusual accuracy.

I claim:

1. An automatic sprinkler having in combination a valve controlling an outlet from a source of fire extinguishing medium;

means normally holding said valveclosed;

means for releasing said holding means comprising a curved thermostatic element com- .posed of members havlng different coeflicients of expansion arranged with the member having the greater coefficient on the concave side of the curve whereby upon rise of temperature to a predetermined degree the said element abruptly reverses its curvature; and means for transmitting the reversing movement of said element to the holding means and thereby releasing the latter to permit the valve to be opened; the transmitting means being arranged in the path of movement of said element at a disfrom a source of fire extinguishing fluid; a

strut interposed between said valve and the frame of the sprinkler normally holding said valve seated; and means for dislodging said strut comprising a bimetallic element, having initially a curved configuration and adapted u on rise of temperature to a pre determine degree to move suddenly and reverse its direction of curvature, and means arranged in the path of movement of said element at a distance therefrom and adapted to be actuated by a blow therefrom to effect dislodgment of the strut.

3. An automatic sprinkler having in combination as its sensitive element a curved bimetallic member adapted upon being heated to apredetermined degree to reverse its curvature; combined with means normally holding said sprinkler closed; and means arranged in the path of movement of said member at a distance therefrom so as to be struck thereby when said reverse of curvature occurs, and adapted when so struck to release said holding means.

end of said yoke;a plunger interposed between said strut and an arm of the yoke adaptedto retain said strut in valve-closing position; a curved thermostatic element mounted on said arm in spaced relation to said plunger, and so constructed and arranged that upon being heated to a predeterminedtemperature it abruptly reverses its curvature; the said plunger being struck by said element when reversingits curvature so as to dislodge the strut and permit said valve to open.

5. An automatic sprinkler having as its sensitive element a curved member so constructed and arranged that upon being heated to a predetermined degree it changes abruptly its curvature; combined with means normally holding said sprinkler closed and means in the path of movement of said member, spaced therefrom, and arranged to be struck by said member and to transmitthe blow received to the said holding means whereby the sudden change in the member dislodges said holding means and thereby opens the sprinkler.

6. An automatic sprinkler having as its sensitive element a curved member so constructed and arranged that upon being heated to a predetermined degree it changes its direction of curvature; combined with means holding the extremities of said member stationary whereby the change 1n curvature causes the intermediate position of said member to move; and means normally holding the sprinkler closed and adapted to be dislodged by the movement of said intermediate portion to open the sprinkler; the last said means being so arranged with respect to said intermediate portion that the latter begins its movement freely before engaging said means whereby the kinetic force of said portion is imparted to said means in the form of a blow.

7 An automatic sprinkler having in combination a valve; means normally holding said valve closed; thermally responsive means constructed and arranged upon rise of temperature to store up thermal energy and to convert said thermal energy to kinetic energy when a predetermined temperature is reached, thereby causing said responsive means to move suddenly; and force transmitting means arranged in the path of movement of said responsive means and in spaced relation thereto and adapted to transmit the I whereby it is suddenly moved, and means in the path of movement of said element and in spaced relation thereto adapted to be struck by said element during its said movement; the last said means being adapted when struck by said element to eifect open ing of the sprinkler.

Signed at Providence, Rhode Island, this 28th day of February, 1929.

ALBERT J LOEPSINGER. 

